Ranfurly Shield

/ rænˈfɜːlɪ /

noun

1. (in New Zealand) the premier rugby trophy, competed for annually by provincial teams

Word History and Origins

Origin of Ranfurly Shield¹

C20: named after the Earl of Ranfurly (1856–1933), 15th Governor of New Zealand (1897–1904), who presented it to the New Zealand Rugby Football Union in 1902

Example Sentences

His father, Jim, was a prop in the Marlborough provincial team that held the Ranfurly Shield, New Zealand’s premier challenge trophy, for two seasons in the early 1970s.

From Washington Times

His father, Jim, was a prop in the Marlborough provincial team that held the Ranfurly Shield, New Zealand’s premier challenge trophy, for two seasons in the early 1970s.

From Seattle Times

On that September day 16 years ago, Canterbury and Waikato’s A teams contested the “log o’ wood”, aka the Ranfurly Shield, the challenge trophy which has been at the heart of New Zealand rugby since 1904.

From The Guardian

In rugby, the Ranfurly Shield is old-school.

From The Guardian

Before Schmidt's arrival, Bay of Plenty had never won the Ranfurly Shield, New Zealand's oldest competition, in almost 100 years of trying.

From BBC